The Who Announce Tour of UK and More

January 28, 2013

THE WHO have announced a 12 date arena tour of the UK and Europe. They will perform their iconic 1973 double album QUADROPHENIA in its entirety, along with a selection of WHO classics. The UK tour follows hot off the heels of their hugely successful North American, tour, praised by press and fans alike as probably the definitive interpretation of Quadrophenia and “a rock ‘n’ roll lover’s dream come true” (Telegram.com, Boston). “QUADROPHENIA is their (The Who’s) boldest and most fully realized albums,” writes Rolling Stone, “but it’s never quite gotten the live show it deserves – until now”.

QUADROPHENIA was The Who’s second rock opera (after Tommy), raising the bar for rock albums as an art form. It hit #2 on the UK album chart and massively influenced the future of UK style, fashion and culture – from Paul Weller to Bradley Wiggins, from Paul Smith to Noel Gallagher. The album’s title is a variation on the popular usage of the medical diagnostic term schizophrenia and exemplifies the four varying personalities of the original band members. IGN placed QUADROPHENIA at No. 1 on its list of the greatest classic rock albums of all time and Q magazine placed it on its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. QUADROPHENIA features such classic WHO songs as “The Real Me,” “5:15” and “Love Reign o’er Me.”

The movie of QUADROPHENIA (1979) has become a cult classic, starring a young Sting, Phil Daniels, Ray Winstone, Trevor Laird and Lesley Ash. John Lydon (Rotten) was screen tested for a part, but the idea was dropped when insurance became an issue! QUADROPHENIA became one of the key influential, independent British movies, alongside other gritty real life films (known as ‘angry young man films’), like “Scum”, “The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner” and “Look Back In Anger”.

This new concert version of QUADROPHENIA, personally directed by Roger Daltrey, focuses on the original album and replaces the narrative used in previous stage versions with powerful imagery projected on an array of massive screens, designed to support, complement and propel the musical content of the work by setting it in the context of the history of the band. This is achieved to startling effect. “Quadrophenia and its coming-of-age story unfolded in songs that blended nuance and noise, a spectacle grand and gritty,” writes the Orlando Sentinel.

Thought you might like this interview with Gary Moore about the last time they played here: “I just interviewed Gary Moore, and he recalled a Who gig at Ulster Hall in Belfast on 11 May 67. You just show Belfast, but here’s what Gary told me : Gary Moore (audience) : I’d seen them a year or so earlier in Lisburn, then they came back again to Belfast about a year or two later and they played in the Ulster Hall, but they had a different drummer this time. Pete that night was unbelievable, he was playing a Strat, I remember that, and he smashed it up at the end. He was just unbelievable on stage, the guy was absolutely terrifying. Afterwards, we were walking out down the corridor and they were walking out the other way and we could see them leaving, just this group of big lanky fuckers, striding out the other end, and I was shaking, like you’d been in a fight. That’s what it felt like. The adrenalin was amazing. I’d never been to a gig and come out feeling like that, and afterwards you just felt like you’d been in a huge bundle with loads of people. It was the most aggressive thing I’ve ever seen live, more so than any punk band or anything. ” Note: the interviewee was Jonny Black.

Silly date for the London O2 show – Bruce Springsteen is playing at Wembley Stadium that day. Can they add another London date so that Who fans who will be at Wembley that day can have a chance to see them? Just asking…..

Hi:)
I am also very pleased with the just-released UK / Europe Tour Dates…
But…please please please add another date in Germany to!
It is simply far too long and it would make the entire German Who fanbase so happy!
And me too;)
Thanks – Kathy

hi if you need some scooters for the stage show in dublin give me a shout,myself and the lads have fully modded up vespa’s and lambetta’s,in return for the loan of our scooters all that would be required is a ticket for each members scooter used at the show cheers if your interested send of an email

Please enter one more concert at Germany or Austria. Maybe at Berlin, Munich or Vienna. That would count for me and so many WHO-fans at Germany and Austria so very, very much! So please come to one of those countries that there also people can hear and feel the power of the music from THE WHO!

The Who’s 12-date tour in the UK (including Belfast) – Yes of course it is within the U.K. – I don’t see (including Liverpool) or (including Glasgow) TWATS.
HURRY UP AND GET OVER HERE IT’S ABOUT TIME !

WOW went to the concert last night and you guys did not disappoint! I saw you back in 1976 and you guys were great then but you brought tears to my eye this time! Thank you so much for your Music and taking me back to a very special time in my life! PEACE AND LOVE TO YOU ALL!

I saw your announcement on FB, and I wept tears of joy and excitement..THE WHO COMING TO AMSTERDAM! I couldn’t contain myself…being a late Who fan, it’s my very first time to see you live, Rog and Pete! I wish I could have a chance to meet you both, ’cause I love you both to bits & would like to hug you-the ultimate dream..hope to meet you personally, if possible!

Awesome …. Tickets booked for manchester MEN 23rd June – cant wait to see you guys again, Was gutted i missed out on Albert Hall the other year so thank you for this. Wish I could have stretched to VIP package to make it that bit more speval but just out reach price wise for 2.

Hey, NO tour dates in VIENNA??? They’ll be playing Paris + London, but not here? That’s not fair! Saw you live once at a festival in Austria and you were amazing. Since then I absolutely love your music.

I can’t possibly afford the ticket price for London AND the flight on top… :´o(Plleeeeaaaassee add Vienna to your tour dates!

The West Country has been forgotten yet again. We never get any major gigs down here. Pete Townsend lives in Cornwall and should realise there is a huge Who fan base down here many of who cannot afford to travel some considerable distance to see them.

cool saw them at wembley back in the 80’s
on their ” kids are alright tour ”
shame entwhistle is no longer with us, and
good ol’ moon, if not too expensive for the
02 in june, i’d love to see them again
matt ( modicine man 67 )

Got tickets for Newcastle and I am so excited. The Who have been my favourite since 1968, getting excited is not good at my age. Can’t wait to Rock to a brilliant group at a great venue. Newcastle will go mental!!!

Saw you guys in December when you came to Nashville. Best night of my life! The Who is my favorite band and I can now die feeling happy knowing I’ve seen them in concert at least once. Although it wouldn’t hurt to maybe see Tommy get rebooted as well…

Have fun with the European tour! I hope The Who fans across the Atlantic have as much fun as I did!

1963 Morecambe Winter Gardens. Me and my best mate Kenny see the Who live for the first time as young mods. 50years later we are still at it, this time in Manchester, but now we are OAP,s!! Keep the faith.

Saw the Who do Quadrophenia for the 2nd time in December 2012 in Newark NJ. It was the 15th time I’ve seen them which began in 1967. One of the TRULY great, innovative, classic rock bands of all time. Without pretense, and with many of their activities sponsoring charitable
endeavors, the WHO are consummate professionals and always give the audience full value for the money spent. The creative genius to conceive, document and perform Tommy , Quadrophenia and all the other classics is almost, if not, unparalled in rock history. My kid –now 37 — listens to the WHO and the great 60s-70s bands much more so than she does her “contemporary” bands—because she says the music is truly “memorable” and speaks to us about life. The WHO has established a musical legacy unlikely to be matched. How fortunate are we to experience it all !!!!!